Airbus and Air India Inaugurate Pilot Training Centre in Gurugram
Airbus and Air India have inaugurated a new, state-of-the-art pilot training centre in Gurugram, Haryana. This 12,000 m² facility will train over 5,000 pilots in the next decade, bolstering the government’s Skill India initiative and meeting the exponential growth of air transport in the country.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Civil Aviation Minister, Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu, along with Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, and Airbus Commercial Aircraft CEO Christian Scherer.
Cutting-Edge Facilities
Developed under a 50:50 joint venture, the centre is equipped with 10 Full Flight Simulators (FFS), in addition to modern classrooms and briefing rooms. Training will cover the Airbus A320 and A350 aircraft families, with courses approved by the DGCA and EASA, ensuring international quality standards.
Campbell Wilson emphasized that Air India is in the midst of a major expansion with an order for 570 new aircraft, and that this facility will enable the training and upskilling of pilots to drive the airline’s ambition of becoming a leading global carrier.
Jürgen Westermeier, President and Managing Director of Airbus India and South Asia, described the project as a strategic investment in the future of the Indian aerospace industry, highlighting India’s role as a key hub for Airbus.
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An Expanding Training Network
The Gurugram centre will complement the four A320 simulators already operational at the Airbus India Training Centre in New Delhi. With both facilities, Airbus and Air India will have a total of 14 Full Flight Simulators, creating a high-capacity training network.
Furthermore, Airbus is collaborating with local partners on aircraft maintenance training programs, ensuring the readiness of technicians and engineers for future fleets.
Beyond Pilot Training
The investment in these centres reflects Airbus’s strategy of strengthening India’s aerospace ecosystem. The company is actively involved in areas including manufacturing, engineering, digital innovation, and maintenance services.
A fundamental pillar of this strategy is human capital development. Airbus partners with prestigious universities such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya, the country’s first university dedicated to transport and logistics. These alliances range from curriculum design to scholarships and R&D programs, aiming to equip the new generation of professionals with the skills needed to advance aviation in the coming decades.
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